Chapter Text
Darin left the arcade, mind wandering on whatever the hell Polybius was. Thank God, he still had his notes from when he tried and failed to do this experiment. He looked at the notes he took, it was surprising actually to have a myth be almost proven. How has he not even noticed it yet? He’s seen lines for the thing but he always just thought it was a really good game that people liked.
But no, it was the myth Polybius! The thing that Darin, admittedly, gave up on, was now here! He could get even more information, but Qx. Oh Qx, Qx and his boring logic, and their stupid job. Darin lost his job a while ago, he worked in an archive, but he lost it due to his “insane” theories.
Insane! They called him insane! His employers said he was making everyone distracted by his theories, they were correct! They have all been correct, none of them. None of them have been wrong, and yet— Here Darin was! Unemployed as ever!
He didn’t mind being cast aside, he liked the loneliness. He could express his emotions, and his theories by himself, with no one to judge him! It was amazing. Well, one person judged him.
“What stupid thing did you write down now?”
“It’s not stupid!”
“It was an arcade cabinet. It didn’t even speak to you.”
“I could feel it.”
“...Nooo you couldn’t.”
“Qx, I don’t think you understand what goes through my mind when I see that machine. There was something special with it— I know it, you just don’t!”
“This is why you got fired, Darin. This always happens.”
“I know.”
Darin walked with Qx to his work, the conversation falling short of conversation. The only sounds were scoffs and throat clearing.
Darin walked back to his home once Qx got off wherever he worked. Darin never thought to ask, why would he? He could be using that time to conspire. Time to work. Time to see Polybius.
He doesn't know why he was so entranced by Polybius. Maybe it was because he liked arcades or the flashy machine captured his attention. Maybe it was just interesting. It is interesting. It is the word interesting.
—
Darin tried to come back, but he couldn’t. His other friend had invited him to go somewhere. He told him he didn’t want to go, but he kept insisting and insisting! It was annoying, quite frankly. Darin tried and tried to leave early, but they wouldn’t let him go away. He didn’t even do anything there. He didn’t even talk. But they wouldn’t let him leave.
Every hour he was away his mind got more cluttered and cluttered. Why did he love this machine so much? What was significant about it? It was an arcade machine!
...
An arcade machine that entrances people.
So, that could explain his sudden infatuation with the machine. He just wonders how he’s going to get into contact with it. Usually boys and girls and everyone in between line up to play it, it would be impossible to get near it! He’d be stuck in the line for God who knows how long!
Qx was right.